Oiling device for bearings



July 6 1926. 1,591,361

W. H. CHURCH OILING DEVICE FOR BEARINGS Filed Oct. 10, 1925 lNvENToR Williaznjjzuzwh Y HIS ATTOR Y Patented July 6, 1926.

UNITED STATES A1,591,361 PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. CHURCH, OF NORWALK, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR'TO INGERSOLL-R-AND COMPANY, F JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

OILING DEVICE FOR BEARINGS.

Application led October 10, 1925. Serial No. 61,639.

This invention relates to bearings, but more particularly to an oiling device for thrust bearings.

One object of the invention is to insure a positive supply of lubricant to the co- 4 operative surfaces of a thrust bearing and a rotatable shaft irrespective of the rotative speed of the shaft.

Other objects will `be in part obvious and in part pointed vout hereinafter.

The invention consists of 'the combinations of elements, features of construction `and arrangement of parts having the general mode of operation substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended' claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- A Figure l is an elevation in section of a thrust bearing and a shaft equipped with an oiling device constructed in accordance with the present invention,

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional View taken through Figure l on the line 2 2 looking in the direction of the arrows, and

Figure 3 is 'a transverse sectional view through Figure l taken on the line 3--3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figure l in which one modification of the invention is shown embodied in a thrust bearing having a bearing housing A to which may be secured in any suitable manner a cap B.- The bearing housing A may be of any convenient form or shape but is preferably rectangular to form an oil reservoir C. Within the bearing housing A and preferably formed integrally therewith is a support D and asimilar support E is formed integrally with the cap B. The support-SD and E are so formed that when the cap B is secured to the bearing housing A, said supports will form a continuous support for a bearing F.

In .the present instance the supports D and E are provided with a sphericalbore G- to cooperate with a spherically formed bearing portion H on the. bearing F. The bearing F in this instance comprises a top section J and a bottom section K and has a longitudinal bore L to receive a shaft O. In order to prevent rotation of the bearing F within the supports D and E a slot P is formed on the top of the top section J to receive a tip Q, of a screw Q screwed into the support E. vThe slot P is preferably of semi-circular shape so that the bearing F may tilt through a vertical plane and Ais only of suiiicient width to receive the tip of the screw Q. A removable cover R vforms a closure for the reservoir Gand is or if desiredymay be formed separately and secured to said shaft. The 'chamber V is preferably of somewhat larger diameter than the flange W so that a slight space eX- ists between the annular wall of the chamber and the periphery of the flange and is of suitable width to receive thrust shoes X on each side of the flange IV against which the longitudinal thrust of the shaft may be transmitted.

The thrust shoes X like thel bearing sections J and K are also formed in half sections and in this instance are secured against rotation by dowel pins Y. Formed in one end of the shaft O is a chamber. Z which communicates with an annular groove b formed in the bore L through radial ports c. A passage d formed through the bottom section K provides communication for the groove b with the reservoir C.

Leading from Athe chamber Z through the flange W to its periphery are a plurality of radial passages@ through which oil may passto the chamber V. The walls of the passages e in this instance serve as impellers .for drawing the oil from the reservoir C through the passage d into the annular groove b, thence through the ports c into the chamber Z. The passages e are of su'fliber V.

Additional means are provided for insuring an immediate supply of oil to the chamber Z at the time the shaft O begins'to rotate and before it has attained its normal speed. To this end an annular groove f is is of sufficient length to eXend well doWnwardly into the reservoir C and preferably hangs directly over the ports c so that when the shaft O starts to rotate the chain Will be actuated and the oil adhering thereto will be carried to the ports c and pass therethrough into the chamber Z. If. desired sprocketsmay be secured to the shaft C to engage the chain la to insure continuous rotatlon of said chain at all speeds of the shaft. It has, however, been found that the impeller devices described Will provide'an adequate supply of oil to the bearing after the shaft O attains a certain speed. For this reason it is preferred that the chain L be mounted loosely on the shaft O to enable the chain to slip with respect to the shaft after said shaft attains suicient speed to set the pumping apparatus in operation.

Theabove descri ed device has been found to function in an unusually efficient manner. Owing to the manner in which the chain h lifts or conveys the lubricant from the reservoir C to the chamber Z a positive supply of oil is insured at the time the shaft starts to rotate. In addition to conveying oil to the bearing, the chain h also serves to agitate the oil in the reservoir, thus insuring a substantially uniform temperaturethroughout the oil supply. Another desirable fea- -ture is that after the shaft C attains its full speed a continuous and uniform supply of cooperatinv surfaces of the bearing F and the shaft Although the invention is herein shown embodied in a thrust bearing, it is to be understood that I do not intend toi-limit its application to the type of bearing illustrated, but that it may also be applied to other types of bearings Without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

l. An oiling device for a thrust bearing having a passage, an oil reservoir, means for conveying oil from the reservoir to the said passage, a shaft rotatable in the bearing having a chamber and radial ports constantly in communication with said passage, and a flange on the shaft for transmitting the thrust of the shaft to the bearing, said flange Vhaving passages leading from the chamber to the periphery of the flange to act as impellers for drawing oil into the chamber and for centrifugally forcing such oil 'from the chamber to the bearing for lubricating said bearing.

2. An oiling device for a thrust bearing having a passage, an oil reservoir in constant communication with the passage, a shaft rotatable in the bearing having a chamber and radial ports constantly in communication with said passage, a flange on the shaft for transmitting the thrust of the shaft to the bearing, said flange 'having passages leading from the chamber to the periphery of the flange to act as impellers for drawing oil into the chamber and for centrifugally forcing such oil from the chamber to the bearing for lubricating said bearing, and means supported loosely by the shaft and actuated by said shaft for conveying oil from the reservoir to the passa e.

In testimony whereof I have signe this specification.

IVILLIAM H. CHURCH. 

